A Christian has absolutely no business gambling.  Oh I know many of you will be furious over that statement but you need to look at your motives and you need to find out what the Word of God presents concerning gambling.

The Bible does not specifically forbid gambling, but there are several biblical principles that should make Christians hesitate to participate:  

1.  God presents work as the normal way to get the money we need (Read Ephesians 4:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:12; and Proverbs 31).  

2.  When a person cannot work, the second choice is prayer (Philippians 4:6, 19).  

3.  All my income belongs to God, not to me (Psalm 24:1), and I am not free to use it as I wish.  I am a steward, who should use it for God's purposes. Can you imagine a servant who gambles with his master's money?  Christians are called on to meet the needs of their family (I Timothy 5:8), and share with others, particularly other Christians who have needs (2 Corinthians 8-9; Galatians 6:6-10; all of 3 John).

Ask: yourself, "does God want me to use His money to buy a lottery ticket?"  

God uses money to accomplish important purposes in our lives:  

1. God uses money in our lives to meet our basic needs (Matthew 6:11; I Timothy 6:8).

2. God uses money to build character (Philippians 4:10-13)

3. God uses money to give direction, by providing or withholding resources.

4.  God gives us money in order to help others through us.

5.  God shows His power by providing miraculously for us, even in times when the money is lacking.

Ask: Does gambling accomplish these results? Am I looking to God or am I looking to the lottery for my needs?  You can't have it both ways. 

Greed and covetousness are sins (Exodus 20:18; 1 Timothy 6:9; Hebrews 13:5), and these are motives in almost every form of gambling.   You desire something for nothing, but the truth is that gamblers lose much more than they will ever win.   

Solomon in his wisdom gave us great insight into wealth and money. 

Proverbs warns of disaster for people who want to get rich quickly (Proverbs 28:20,22).

Wealth that comes easily goes just as easily (Proverbs 13:11).

Wealth gained the wrong way breaks up families (Proverbs 15:27).  

Gambling can be addictive, even as bad as a drug or alcohol addiction.  Even if you don't fall prey to it as a compulsive habit, your example may cause others to be enslaved by it (1 Corinthians 8:9, 13).

Gambling, both legal and illegal, is a phenomenon gaining unprecedented acceptance. It is on our televisions, it is on our radios, in the newspapers and other media. Sadly, Christians ahve fallen prey to gambling addictions partly due to the false gospel of wealth that is being taught so prevalently today.  Because it is so widespread, Christians must take a look at this activity to determine the ethical and moral implications. 

Gambling Defined  

Advocates of gambling often try to place this activity in the same category as other ventures which involve risk. They describe farming, business, insurance, and even investments as gambling because the outcome is unpredictable and losses can occur. In this way they hope to transfer the respectability of legitimate causes to that of gambling.

Look at the differences between gambling and LIFE.  One writer put it this way (his writing is italicized):

"Life does have its normal risks which one must accept with faith and courage. These normal risks are in no sense equivalent to the risks in a game of chance. Gambling devises artificial risks in the hope of excessive gain far beyond what the investment of time, money, or skill would justify. In gambling the chance is unrelated to any creative effort called for by the farmer or the stockbroker in the responsible investment of his mental, monetary, and physical funds.

To distinguish gambling from risks involved in legitimate venture it will be helpful to recognize three factors integral to gambling:

1. An incentive consisting of money or merchandise is offered.

2. The prize is acquired primarily on the basis of chance.

3. A payment of money or other consideration is required to become involved in the chance taken.

Gambling then is recognized as any activity in which wealth changes hands, mainly on the basis of chance and with risk to the gambler. Creative effort, useful skills, and responsible investment are not integral factors."

Because gambling exists in many forms and people in increasing numbers are exposed to its temptations, the responsible Christian must form an opinion concerning its propriety. The legalization of gambling by government or its acceptance by some religious organizations cannot be a criterion for evaluation. The Christian attitude must be determined by the principles of Scripture."